(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Daily Bucket Swallow Mayhem (Stubborn Child) [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-09-12
It would seem that the last nest full of Barn Swallow babies each year produces a batch unwilling to abandon their nest. At least that has been the case for the past two years. Not all the babies were in on the scheme. In fact when the time was right all save one flew the coop. But there was one...Stubborn Child!
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
It is normally the case when I enter the barn for morning chores I am greeted by at least 6-8 Swallows who want to keep an eye on me while I work, and an ever watchful eye on their nests. They fly round and round inside the barn and in and out the stall doors. It is impossible to keep track of them.
By mid August all nests had been vacated except one. I had noticed the babies in that one were looking prime for takeoff. On this particular mid August morning I entered the barn to discover a decidedly different scenario. So I rushed back to the house for my camera as I knew I was about to witness, close up, more behavioral traits of these amazing birds. The barn was packed with Swallows. I quit counting at 30. There were a number flying around but every wall, every partition,
perched barn swallows in the barn
the electrical conduits hanging from loft joists,
Perched on electrical conduit hanging from floor joists in the barn. Main Mama to left. Crazy Bird to right of second pic.
the vent spaces between stall rafters, even clinging to fan guywires…
Clinging to fan guywire
Closeup hanging from fan guywire.
everywhere in the barn was lined up with perched Swallows. As I fed the horses I neared the birthing stall rearmost in the barn and looked up at the last nest of babies. They were gone (!), except for one.
The adults were communicating with one another, undoubtedly deciding on a strategy to get Stubborn Child to join his siblings on the wing. Stubborn Child had rejected all attempts up to this point but was definitely interested is having breakfast delivered!
Adult teasing Stubborn Child but has no food.
After posing as though ready to offer feed the adult pulled back. There was a message being delivered instead of food. The female then took to the air.
The vacating female was replaced by multiple fliers seeking to lure Stubborn Child into flight. In fact there was an airborne parade of adult Swallows flying up to the nest but not stopping there. Stubborn Child was having none of that and did not budge.
I sat in my chair to watch what was unfolding and Main Papa chose to perch almost straight above my head. He was within six feet of me.
Main Mama joined Papa above my head. She is the heir to our long time Main Mama, who was taken when the tornado hit. She looks almost exactly the same, but older. You can see unmistakable signs of advancing age on both of the pair. Last year when there was a late bloomer who didn’t want to leave the nest Main Papa took over and single handedly achieved the goal through selective feeding then restricting feed, followed by rewarding the baby by feeding it in the air. It was looking as though the population at large was about to deploy an even more forceful strategy, while Main Papa was content to do nothing but watch.
With the brat still barking for food and ignoring the lure method the adults deployed a different tactic. The flying adult landed on the nest and thrust herself behind the baby, forcing Stubborn Child out onto the edge of the nest. Then she simply pushed him out! Stubborn Child had no choice but to fly. It all happened so fast I almost missed it! Then I noticed the disturbance further back toward the rear of the stall. Stubborn Child had flown a total of about four feet, swooping right back up and taking refuge in Main Mama’s nest two joists away! Stubborn as hell, but displaying some quick creative thinking. However, that creative thinking did not cover what was to come next by the adults.
Two adults fly up to surround the newbie huddled deep in the nest pocket while a third adult advances to occupy the original nest. Then the adult begin the process of crowding Stubborn Child out of his refuge.
The two adults crowding Stubborn Child out of his refuge. They easily overwhelm the youngster and with the original nest occupied he has nowhere to go but out the door.
There was a sudden WHOOSH sound as every bird in the barn exited in an instant. Stubborn Child was with them. I could see through the stall doors birds were flying around everywhere outside the barn so I rushed to the front to look outside. And there they were, congregating on the power line.
The birds were scattered up and down the line but especially around the transformer pole.
I stood in the doorway watching and trying to locate the Stubborn Child. Birds were perched but many were on the wing. I knew there should be some good opportunities for close up bif pics.
It was obvious the birds were looking for Stubborn Child and were communicating up and down the line. But wait! Is that a viable bif I see? Maybe, or maybe not.
Still looking for the precious brat but still can't find him and neither can the birds. But that bird at upper right looks like a bif contender.
Maybe not great, but not bad either. If that pole guy line wasn’t there… But that guy line is very important. It keeps the pole from sagging under the weight of the long stretch of cables anchored to it. So I’ll overlook the downside of it ruining my pic.
Looking down the length of that guy line I suddenly discover another good use for it. Right there in front of my eyes only about eight feet above ground level is the ground coupler. And on that coupler is…
Stubborn Child! He had been there all along but I was busy watching all that bird activity up higher on the lines. And now I see why there are still so many fliers on the wing. They are back to playing their games, trying to coax him to join them on the line.
Stubborn Child is nothing if he isn’t stubborn! I should fess up and admit I don’t know if he is a he or a she. But because of that I just call it a him. The birds are trying to get him to join them while I try my hand at catching some BIFs. In the meantime I think I will sit down on the doorway as I’m getting tired and this event has already lasted for over an hour. BUT, as I am trying to get comfy Stubborn Child takes flight while I am looking down.
And there is another WHOOSH!
The first instant of the second WHOOSH event of this day. By the next instant every bird on the line was in flight, and Stubborn Child with them. WHOOSH!
It all happened so fast I couldn’t keep up with it. The birds flew over the corral, then over the treetops behind the barn, and then they were GONE. Just like that. Gone until they return next spring. Stubborn Child will receive his education and nutrition in the form of a “to-go” order.
Here are some of the BIFs I salvaged while waiting and watching.
Last 2025 Swallow bifs Closer
Last Swallow bifs 2025 Closer
WHOOSH! I will never forget that sound.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/12/2341210/-Daily-Bucket-Swallow-Mayhem-Stubborn-Child?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
